SISTERING® Pottery Cart
Exhibited in Gardiner Museum for Inspirations Studio Cart Project Exhibition, 2017, April 8-9
A second-year school project collaborated with Meaghan Robson, Maddy Bailey and Melih Yazici, 2017
About the project
In this project, we designed and created personal transportation carts containing a display for ceramics. We partnered with Sistering Inspirations Studio, a social enterprise to train marginalized women in pottery production, which they sell at craft events for supplemental income. The women acted as clients and advisors, and the students' work iterated well-designed, user-friendly designs that will be built after Sistering fundraises the costs involved.
About Sistering
Sistering is a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially isolated women in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.
“We have been serving this community for over 35 years, validating women’s experiences regardless of outcomes.”
The Problem
After interviewing our user, we spotted some pain points we need to toggle.
Our Solution
Fully concealed body for weatherproof.
Ergonomic handle at the height of waist for pushing motion instead of pulling.
The second shelf can also be used as an extra storage unit during transit.
Foldable front door opens into a display area, two shelves, and a pop-out top expands the display layers.
The front door is secured by magnets.
Soft lining also comes with the cart as a table cloth on the shelf. The user can select the colour or texture.
The lining is connected to the shelf by Velcro.
A side window design.
The user can either exhibit their artwork or conceal the interior by adding a cloth or poster to block the window.
At the back, there is a hidden personal storage unit. The user can put their umbrella, foldable stool or wallet inside.
The door is secured by a lock.
Soft Good Prototype
The whole box is padded with a cotton sheet to protect the pottery from breaking.
The multifunctional lining with Velcro on one side.
Handle with ergonomic cut out and lined with foam to fit for hands.
The lining has three layers: fabric and a layer of air mesh.
The lining can fold into various shapes to wrap around the pottery.
The outer fabric is Velcro attachable
The box can approximately hold 12 coffee mugs.
The box is made of ABS with L-bracket enhancement at each corner for its durability.
Durability Testing
The prototype can go up and down stairs without losing its grip. The turning motion is also smooth on flat surfaces.
All different-sized common pottery can be wrapped and placed into the storage bin without extra wrapping or securing material.
Challenges
The Budget
As we are working with a tight fabrication budget (under CAD200), we had to think outside the box and find cheaper materials. However, the final outcome still left us with a few unsatisfactory factors, such as waterproofing, the weight of the cart and the finishing.
2. Working With Clients
Since we were working with the women in the Sistering inspiration studio, we had to interview them and constantly ask about their opinion. Sometimes, we made compromises or changes we didn't fully agree on or understand. That was our first time learning how to work with real clients.
The Process
